A startup named Etched, founded by two Harvard dropouts, is creating an ASIC chip called Sohu that could revolutionize AI models like ChatGPT. Sohu claims to be significantly faster than Nvidia's leading GPUs and focuses exclusively on transformer models. The company has raised 120 million dollars and plans to manufacture the chip with TSMC, with significant preorders already reported.
A California-based startup named Etched, founded by two Harvard dropouts, aims to disrupt the AI hardware market with its new ASIC chip called Sohu.
Designed specifically for transformer AI models like ChatGPT, Sohu claims to be 20 times faster than Nvidia's H100 and 10 times faster than the B200, according to company tests.
Unlike GPUs, which handle multiple computational tasks, Sohu focuses solely on transformer models, potentially enabling new AI applications like real-time translation and multimodal interactions.
The startup has raised 120 million dollars as of June 25, 2024, to fund its development, with an undisclosed timeline for release.
They have secured a fabrication deal with TSMC to produce the chip using 4-nanometer technology and report 'tens of million dollars' in hardware preorders.